This week’s 5 Things Friday is by the lovely Elyse over at Run 2 Your Own Beat. Perfect timing as many of us are heading back to school, but even if you’re not these are great tips for staying healthy for everyone.

Let’s all mutually agree now that we wish it could be summer all the time – lounging around browsing health & fitness blogs, cooking whatever you felt like for dinner, exercising whenever you wanted, and endless TV binge-a-thons. Unfortunately, we can’t always live like that – there are only so many hours in a day, and for college students during the school year, much of those hours are spent in class and studying. It’s easy to grab an energy drink and a bag of chips for a late night snack, or some ramen for dinner, but those foods will ultimately lead to lowered productivity mentally and physically.

Trust me, I recall my first year in college and being in NYC, I was able to order anything delivery. That was dangerous – needless to say I certainly indulged in that a bit too much. I wasn’t as concerned with what I ate, as long as it satisfied whatever I was craving. I gained a solid 20 lbs, and have recently lost it – but hopefully all this will help others avoid some of my mistakes.

I’ll admit, it is slightly pricier to buy a healthy snack of pre-sliced fruit at the convenience store than buying a bag of potato chips, however, there are ways to fatten up your wallet while keeping your waistline slim.

1.    Grocery shopping once a week 

If you’re in college and are like me, your funds are probably very limited. It helps to set a weekly grocery budget, depending on your income. I find myself spending around $100/week on the necessities. It sounds like a lot to put out at first, but think about it this way: let’s say each meal costs around $10 eating out. That’s 10 meals that might not even fill you up and may be unhealthy. With $100 grocery shopping, you’ll be able to buy foods for all your meals plus snacks – that way, you limit how often you eat out, and allow yourself extra money for your morning coffee.

Here’s a go-to grocery list with all your weekly staples:

 2.    Making your weekly planner your bible

For some people this may not work – however, I am one of those types who likes to have my schedule laid out in front of me in one easy-to-read format. I bought a planner from Staples that allows me to see my whole week on two pages and write my daily schedule in each column. In my planner I wrote: classes/times, gym time, food prep/grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, work, blogging/homework time, as well as exams/paper due dates for class.

Here’s what my first week of school looks like:

3.    So I have the groceries. What do I do with them!? 

Great question! Typically, I stick to 3 meals a day and 2-3 healthy snacks. I like to have the bulk of my daily carbs in the morning for energy, a salad for lunch with lean protein, and a lean protein/vegetable/sometimes a carb for dinner. I highly stress using seasoning blends to change up your meals so you don’t get bored. Some of my favorites are: Mccormick GrillMates (any kind), Mrs. Dash seasonings, and McCormick Salt-free seasonings.

Here are some meal and snack ideas depending on your mood/time of day:

4.    Set a time to prepare the week’s food and stick to it

This is dependent on your class/work schedule. I’m lucky enough to not have Friday classes this semester, so I’ve made Fridays my rest day and my grocery shopping/food prep day. Not all college students have their own kitchen – most have a micro-fridge. Usually, there is a communal kitchen, so keeping your actual cooking to one day a week will be super convenient.

 Here are some pictures from previous weeks when I’ve prepped foods: 

5.      DON’T STRESS!!!

Seriously – it’s okay to have a cheat meal once in a while. I believe in living a balanced lifestyle, and that includes letting yourself be a college student and occasionally indulge. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love burgers, fried foods, and anything with cheese on it. However, with the amount of stress given from classes, friends, etc., it’s best to fuel your bodies most of the time with foods that will keep you satisfied, focused, and full of energy. It takes a lot to organize not only your academics, but your meal schedule as well. It’s overwhelming, but take it a little bit at a time. Eventually, it becomes habit to make the healthier choices!

Check out Elyse’s awesome blog:

Run 2 Your Own Beat

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